Euronews

Ukraine’s Economy Minister Pavlo Sheremeta says he has tendered his resignation, voicing frustration at the poor pace of economic reform.

After months of fighting in its eastern regions, Ukraine’s economy has contracted sharply, even with a multi-billion euro financial lifeline from the International Monetary Fund.

That money comes with requirements for reform, which have been slow in coming.

The governing coalition collapsed last month and President Petro Poroshenko says he might announce the dissolution of parliament as early as Sunday – a move that will set up a parliamentary election in Ukraine in late October.

“The decision will be made when there is a constitutional basis for it and that moment, as everyone knows, is on Independence Day (Aug. 24),” Poroshenko was quoted as saying by Interfax Ukraine news agency.

He will be hoping the poll will clear out many of the ‘old guard’ from a parliament still packed with lots of former supporters of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych.